[Archived] Sam Allardyce

[unluckymorton]

Bit early to be looking for the green shoots of recovery, no? After 9 games without a win, we get one which could easily have been a draw.

January is going to be a decisive month ...

Why so much negativity? We won FFS. Win lose or draw there is no pleasing some people. We won but we could have easily drawn (according to you but I think it was more convincing than that)... Pathetic. What about the games we've drawn and could have easily won? I take it they don't count. It's all doom and gloom with some people.

Rovers may be a bit more positive on the pitch if more of the fans were positive.

Sorry for 'looking for the green shoots of recovery' I suppose I have no right what so ever to do that until the manager and Keith Andrews are down the road, or until we're in the top six.

We won, enjoy the moment and take it into the next game with us.

[Gav]

The manager got the bit of luck hes been talking about yesterday but the performance doesn’t fill anyone with optimism I’m sure. On another day Fulham could have been out of site, but I guess you could say that asbout of couple of our losses over recent months.

Its clear that the manager can’t motivate the current crop of player enough to have any sort of impact. Now this maybe not his fault, and several may need to be moved on before the club can move forward. But I think we’re reaching a cross roads here, in that the club needs to back him financially or sack him.

All we’ve done for many a season is sell our best players and not replace them. You just cannot keep doing that, eventually it’ll catch up with you and maybe Allardyce has come in at the wrong time, and we’re reaping what we’ve sawn over several seasons.

All this said, the manger is paid to manage and his attempts so far have been questionable to say the least. His away match policy is disturbing and his formation is equally so. I still feel he’s lost the dressing room and some of his pre match comments are a joke.

It’s a case of watch this space, lets hope if they do back him they support him with some finance, although the board could be looking at 6 million for Kalinic and thinking they’ll keep there powder dry for now.

[gumboots]

Why so much negativity? We won FFS. Win lose or draw there is no pleasing some people. We won but we could have easily drawn (according to you but I think it was more convincing than that)... Pathetic. What about the games we've drawn and could have easily won? I take it they don't count. It's all doom and gloom with some people.

Rovers may be a bit more positive on the pitch if more of the fans were positive.

Sorry for 'looking for the green shoots of recovery' I suppose I have no right what so ever to do that until the manager and Keith Andrews are down the road, or until we're in the top six.

We won, enjoy the moment and take it into the next game with us.

of course I'm enjoying the fact that we won - no fan wouldn't, but winning is not the norm at Rovers at the moment so forgive the realists among us who were delighted with the points yesterday but don't necessarily see it as a new dawn. It could just as easily be a blip and we're not getting carried away that's all.

[broadsword]

Why so much negativity? We won FFS. Win lose or draw there is no pleasing some people. We won but we could have easily drawn (according to you but I think it was more convincing than that)... Pathetic. What about the games we've drawn and could have easily won? I take it they don't count. It's all doom and gloom with some people.

Rovers may be a bit more positive on the pitch if more of the fans were positive.

Sorry for 'looking for the green shoots of recovery' I suppose I have no right what so ever to do that until the manager and Keith Andrews are down the road, or until we're in the top six.

We won, enjoy the moment and take it into the next game with us.

Blah blah blah ... how many games did we draw when we should've won then? (And don't count strikers fluffing chances to score, that is bad play, not bad luck.)

You can do what you like, my point is until we put some sort of run together then I'd say that one swallow doesn't make a summer (although how that corresponds to green shoots I'm not sure).

Somewhere in-between relentless negativity and "everything is great" optimism lies the middle ground of calling it as you see it and not getting swayed one way or another by one bad result or one good result.

If you want to be incredibly optimistic because of one decent result, that's fine, but could you knock off the babyish sarcasm?

[mellison24]

I think unluckymorton IS being realistic and is listing what he HOPES to happen, not what he THINKS will happen. That's the impression I get from his posts. While it is optimism, it is also realism.

As I see it, a snowflake won't make a blizzard, BUT optimism is fine too. Personally, I'm optimistic of getting to Wembley! Means I HOPE it will happen because I think we have a fairly decent chance of doing it. As has been pointed out elsewhere, it depends just how switched-on Villa are.

[broadsword]

He said we seem to be starting to be going in the right direction.

Nothing to do with hope, it's what he's thinking, clearly.

All I'm saying is that after ONE SINGLE GAME (which we could've easily have drawn) it's a bit too soon to get the bunting out. I hope we can move on from here, but I'd rather wait a few more games before getting my hope up.

Given teh season we've had, I think being circumspect is the right way to go, and I wasn't expecting someone to throw their toys out of the pram and throw a fit just because I made a reasonable point.

[mellison24]

He said we seem to be starting to be going in the right direction.

Nothing to do with hope, it's what he's thinking, clearly.

All I'm saying is that after ONE SINGLE GAME (which we could've easily have drawn) it's a bit too soon to get the bunting out. I hope we can move on from here, but I'd rather wait a few more games before getting my hope up.

Given teh season we've had, I think being circumspect is the right way to go, and I wasn't expecting someone to throw their toys out of the pram and throw a fit just because I made a reasonable point.

This is my take on it too. But let optimists be optimists eh? It sometimes rubs off on people and can be useful.

[unluckymorton]

Blah blah blah ... how many games did we draw when we should've won then? (And don't count strikers fluffing chances to score, that is bad play, not bad luck.)

You can do what you like, my point is until we put some sort of run together then I'd say that one swallow doesn't make a summer (although how that corresponds to green shoots I'm not sure).

Somewhere in-between relentless negativity and "everything is great" optimism lies the middle ground of calling it as you see it and not getting swayed one way or another by one bad result or one good result.

If you want to be incredibly optimistic because of one decent result, that's fine, but could you knock off the babyish sarcasm?

1. Strikers fluffing chances no longer count as chances? I'll make a note of that.

2. I will do what I like and I would rather look on the bright side.

3. Incredibly optimistic is not what I am, happy we won and hoping it continues rather than being negative is what I am.

4. A good result, a decent display from Reid, another from Kalinic, Benni found his hunger (for football) again, a clean sheet, Andrews left on the bench for a majority of the game, Olssen looked exciting, Junior looked good when he came on, the lads seemed to be playing as a team. It was more than just the result.

5. Babyish sarcasm? Grow up and get a sense of humour.

He said we seem to be starting to be going in the right direction.

Nothing to do with hope, it's what he's thinking, clearly.

All I'm saying is that after ONE SINGLE GAME (which we could've easily have drawn) it's a bit too soon to get the bunting out. I hope we can move on from here, but I'd rather wait a few more games before getting my hope up.

Given teh season we've had, I think being circumspect is the right way to go, and I wasn't expecting someone to throw their toys out of the pram and throw a fit just because I made a reasonable point.

Winning and playing as a team is the right direction. The bunting is still tied up in the garage, and my toys are still in my pram.

This is my take on it too. But let optimists be optimists eh? It sometimes rubs off on people and can be useful.

It's actually an offence in some sections of the ground...

[broadsword]

1. Strikers fluffing chances no longer count as chances? I'll make a note of that.

2. I will do what I like and I would rather look on the bright side.

3. Incredibly optimistic is not what I am, happy we won and hoping it continues rather than being negative is what I am.

4. A good result, a decent display from Reid, another from Kalinic, Benni found his hunger (for football) again, a clean sheet, Andrews left on the bench for a majority of the game, Olssen looked exciting, Junior looked good when he came on, the lads seemed to be playing as a team. It was more than just the result.

5. Babyish sarcasm? Grow up and get a sense of humour.

1 - that's NOT what i said

2 - good for you

3 - but you said it seems like we're starting to go in the right direction, now that's been downgraded to hope?

4 - So how many decent performances have we put in this season? As I said, I think it's reasonable to see how things pan out rather than go overboard because of one game.

5 - you threw your toys out of the pram because I disagreed with you with reasoned points. Don't think it's me who needs to grow up.

[unluckymorton]

1 - that's NOT what i said

2 - good for you

3 - but you said it seems like we're starting to go in the right direction, now that's been downgraded to hope?

4 - So how many decent performances have we put in this season? As I said, I think it's reasonable to see how things pan out rather than go overboard because of one game.

5 - you threw your toys out of the pram because I disagreed with you with reasoned points. Don't think it's me who needs to grow up.

PM me if you want to carry on Bryan, people will be getting bored with this.

I'm optimistic, you seem pessimistic. I think people should get their chin up rather than all the doom and gloom... and I'm also gagging for a cig . End of. Or I may also spit my dummy out.

[RevidgeBlue]

As I see it yesterday's game doesn't change a great deal. Yesterday's win was crucial, extremely welcome and necessary but a poor performance and a loss against Wigan and we are back to square one.

Sam is either the man for the job and we will at some point put a run of results together and finish towards the top half of the table. Or he isn't and our tough finish will see us drop back into trouble.

Yesterday's result doesn't change that. I'm not convinced yet but am more than happy to be proved wrong.

[PAFELL]

He said we seem to be starting to be going in the right direction.

Nothing to do with hope, it's what he's thinking, clearly.

All I'm saying is that after ONE SINGLE GAME (which we could've easily have drawn) it's a bit too soon to get the bunting out. I hope we can move on from here, but I'd rather wait a few more games before getting my hope up.

Given teh season we've had, I think being circumspect is the right way to go, and I wasn't expecting someone to throw their toys out of the pram and throw a fit just because I made a reasonable point.

Although I have only watched 55 minutes of sky highlights - I also believe Rovers rode their luck yesterday and thankfully it paid off. I am also hoping, that because Rovers have playeed a certain style for awhile, that it will take a few games to adapt, IF Sam has changed the style. If the style has not changed, then the only thing rovers got yesterday was a lucky win - they took their chances and Fulham didn't.

But I also heard 90 minute of commentry and by all accounts Bennie was more like his old self and Olson played very well - as did Kalinic. Reid could have been booked a few times and Samba could easily have given a penalty away. Robbo played well and kept rovers in the game.

I am really hoping that this result leads to better things, results nad performances and effort. If not then the pressure is back on and we are back to square one.

[unluckymorton]

Although I have only watched 55 minutes of sky highlights - I also believe Rovers rode their luck yesterday and thankfully it paid off. I am also hoping, that because Rovers have playeed a certain style for awhile, that it will take a few games to adapt, IF Sam has changed the style. If the style has not changed, then the only thing rovers got yesterday was a lucky win - they took their chances and Fulham didn't.

But I also heard 90 minute of commentry and by all accounts Bennie was more like his old self and Olson played very well - as did Kalinic. Reid could have been booked a few times and Samba could easily have given a penalty away. Robbo played well and kept rovers in the game.

I am really hoping that this result leads to better things, results nad performances and effort. If not then the pressure is back on and we are back to square one.

Nobody is saying yesterday was perfection, but a win, a clean sheet, trying to play the ball on the deck, using wingers, using Reid rather than Keith, starting Kalinic up front with benni and Robbo doing his job is going in the right direction.

Come on people, we won, credit where credit is due.

[Silencio]

As I see it yesterday's game doesn't change a great deal. Yesterday's win was crucial, extremely welcome and necessary but a poor performance and a loss against Wigan and we are back to square one.

Sam is either the man for the job and we will at some point put a run of results together and finish towards the top half of the table. Or he isn't and our tough finish will see us drop back into trouble.

Yesterday's result doesn't change that. I'm not convinced yet but am more than happy to be proved wrong.

I agree with you here but do think that even though Sam is perhaps not for us long-term, he will keep us up this season. We are quite a poor side but there are plenty of poor sides in this league and I think Kalinic will start scoring. If we win against Wigan I would hope the board will back Sam with cash for a signing/signings so we can push away.

I actually think Sam is decent in the market (despite the Salgado signing) and if he had 4-5 million he could find 2 players to make a big difference.

[Exiled in Toronto]

Yet more 'When I were at Bolton...' in the LT from OUR manager. Shut the f*** up; we don't care and it's ancient history anyway. I don't recall Kenny saying 'When I was at Liverpool' or Souness 'When I was at Rangers/Liverpool/Benfica/etc etc'

[John]

Yet more 'When I were at Bolton...' in the LT from OUR manager. Shut the f*** up; we don't care and it's ancient history anyway. I don't recall Kenny saying 'When I was at Liverpool' or Souness 'When I was at Rangers/Liverpool/Benfica/etc etc'

Souey used to refer to his Liverpool days a bit.

[Tom]

NEXT 5 League games -

Wigan (H)

West Ham (A)

Stoke (A)

Hull (H)

Bolton (H)

Our target should be simple. Win the homes games, pick up at least 1 point from the away matches. Would give us 11 points and stick us on 35 points after 27 games - and more or less Safety in the bag.

If we can pick ourselves up now then we could quite easily still end on target (13th), if not higher! Now what board (unless its a loaded club) would sack their manager if he met their targets?!

Agreed we couldn't ask for a much kinder run of fixtures right now, realistically we are likely to mess up in one of the home games but I would expect us to at least take 7 points from those 3.

The 2 away games are both winnable but i would take 2 points from those

In our hands, if we want it

[mellison24]

Souey used to refer to his Liverpool days a bit.

He referred to Rangers and Galatasaray when he signed Tugay

[BigUts]

Read a short amount on the thread but not all 300+ pages unfortunately! (ahem!)

Anyhows...for all his faults I think Sam is probably our best bet in the medium term. He's unlikely to go anywhere (because nobody wants him admittedly!), and will more than likely keep us up this season which has got to be our remit for this term. At certain points we seem to be showing what we can do when do get it down and play.

The next two home games are massive in terms of our ambitions for the latter part of the season. Win them both and we can easily finish in the top half. Lose both and we are right in the plop! We have been very fortunate that our 9 game spell without a PL win didn't mean that we were or are cut adrift deep in the relegation dog fight.

The constant booing around Ewood is also getting a bit boring now. I really dislike Andrews, but people booing before he's even come on to the pitch is not what we need!

[John]

Sam on bringing back the glory days

“We’ve got pictures of Kenny and Souey with their trophies, I’ve had them put up in our corridor.

“I don’t want people to forget the very recent history this football club has got.

"I think sometimes the fans here are a bit more critical because of that recent history.

“The fans who are growing up here now remember that they are the only team outside the big four to win the Premier League. Who else will do what this club did? Nobody.

“The recent history is so good. Souey won the League Cup in 2002 and that’s in the memory of the fans.

“It’s that bit more difficult to emulate now but they are in the corridor around Ewood. People must not forget the history that this club has had - it’s very important.”

[Majiball]

Sam on the Semi he's got on

Apparently we're not very excited

[Tris]

Sam on the Semi he's got on

Apparently we're not very excited

"The first goal will be critical, and we have to make sure we are the ones who score it," he said. "That means being patient, first and foremost, nullifying Villa's strengths and trying to frustrate them. We know what their attacking players can do, and if we let Villa get the best out of them it will lift the crowd. Our job is to try to dampen the atmosphere, keep everything quiet, and then start probing for a goal of our own

Oh great. Is it too late to get a refund? Hopefully, he's bluffing ...

[RevidgeBlue]

Sam on the Semi he's got on

Apparently we're not very excited

I couldn't disagree more with Sam's assessment - the best way to quieten the crowd down would be to get an equaliser asap - AND that would represent our best chance of going through.

We have 90, or at worst 120, mins to score two goals. How long does he want us to sit back for?

As for not being excited, I'm not in the least bit excited personally, imo Sam lost us the tie with his tactics in the first leg. So I don't think he's in the strongest position to be making jibes about not getting tickets for Wembley.

I recognise stranger things have happened though, so let's wait and see what happens.

[gumboots]

I couldn't disagree more with Sam's assessment - the best way to quieten the crowd down would be to get an equaliser asap - AND that would represent our best chance of going through.

We have 90, or at worst 120, mins to score two goals. How long does he want us to sit back for?

As for not being excited, I'm not in the least bit excited personally, imo Sam lost us the tie with his tactics in the first leg. So I don't think he's in the strongest position to be making jibes about not getting tickets for Wembley.

I recognise stranger things have happened though, so let's wait and see what happens.

It's not even that we are not excited but the coaches leave so early and anyway some of us can't get out of work to get there in time. If you work in the kind of job where you can take time off provided you book it in advance, fair enough but in my job, there's no leeway - you have to be there all the time we are open. Prices are higher than I would have expected too. Then there are folks who would have gone if they'd seen any reasonable chance of seeing a decent match but on Allardyce's favoured percentages game, that's highly unlikely. Our away form is atrocious and he talks so negatively that I think he's lucky 1500 are going.

[Majiball]

Oh great. Is it too late to get a refund? Hopefully, he's bluffing ...

All he's made clear to me is the man cannot learn.

I couldn't disagree more with Sam's assessment - the best way to quieten the crowd down would be to get an equaliser asap - AND that would represent our best chance of going through.

We have 90, or at worst 120, mins to score two goals. How long does he want us to sit back for?

As for not being excited, I'm not in the least bit excited personally, imo Sam lost us the tie with his tactics in the first leg. So I don't think he's in the strongest position to be making jibes about not getting tickets for Wembley.

I recognise stranger things have happened though, so let's wait and see what happens.

We'll have to wait and see what he does, but I have sneaky suspicsion that he'll do it.

It's not even that we are not excited but the coaches leave so early and anyway some of us can't get out of work to get there in time. If you work in the kind of job where you can take time off provided you book it in advance, fair enough but in my job, there's no leeway - you have to be there all the time we are open. Prices are higher than I would have expected too. Then there are folks who would have gone if they'd seen any reasonable chance of seeing a decent match but on Allardyce's favoured percentages game, that's highly unlikely. Our away form is atrocious and he talks so negatively that I think he's lucky 1500 are going.

One of these days people are going to understand that footballs changed. Its as much entertainment as it is a sport now, whether we like it or not people will no longer endure things for long. If people are not being entertained they will walk, rewgardless of how people feel about that, thats the way it is and we must try harder to make people feel entertained whether its through a result or performance or combination of both.

At the end of the day we have the cheapest prices in our league and yet our crowds are dying and so low for games that should be sell outs???

See above. I'm seriously worried what will happen next season if this situation doesn't change, because if we can only entice 12-17,000 for a cup Semi then how many season tickets will we sell next season?